We’ve talked about how good Mississippi State is on defense all week. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers so that we can get a full understanding of how dominant they have been. The number is parenthesis will be their FBS rank.
Scoring Defense: 13.5 PPG (4th)
TD Allowed: 9 (1st)
Points Allowed: 108 (4th)
Rush Defense: 107.9 (15th)
Rush TD Allowed: 5 (4th)
Pass Defense: 175.9 (16th)
Pass TD Allowed: 4 (1st)
Total Defense: 283.8 (6th)
Yards Per Play Allowed: 4.4 (6th)
Opp 3rd Down Conv Rate: 28.3% (8th)
Opp Red Zone TD %: 22.7 (1st)
Opp Red Zone TD: 5 (1st)
Tackles for Loss: 63 (14th)
Ok, you all get the point. They have been really good in just about every single defensive category that you could put on the table. Let’s now take a look at some of their top individual performers.
Montez Sweat (DE): 11.5 TFL, 9 sacks (PFF grade of 82.3 against the run, 80.8 as a pass rusher, 27 QB pressures)
Jeffery Simmons (DT): 10.5 TFL (PFF grade of 91.8 against the run, 80.6 as a pass rusher, 16 QB pressures)
Eroll Thompson (LB): 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Gerri Green (DE): 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks (PFF grade of 72 against the run, 58.3 as a pass rusher, 9 QB pressures)
Jaquarius Andrews (S): 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks (he’ll get more snaps in the place of injured, Brian Cole)
Chauncey Rivers (DE): 4.5 TFL, 1 sack (PFF grade of 71 against the run, 62.9 as a pass rusher, 8 QB pressures)
Kobe Jones (DE): 4 TFL (PFF grade of 79 against the run, 56.9 as a pass rusher, 5 QB pressures)
Mark McLaurin (S): 3.5 TFL
Braxton Hoyett (DT): 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Leo Lewis (LB): 3 TFL
Pretty solid defense that thrives on putting offenses behind the chains. It’s easy to say that Tech just has to control Sweat and Simmons, but the problem is that no one has been able to do it so far this year.
I said it on BTB Radio last night, but I just don’t think Tech matches up with these guys very well.
Scoring Defense: 13.5 PPG (4th)
TD Allowed: 9 (1st)
Points Allowed: 108 (4th)
Rush Defense: 107.9 (15th)
Rush TD Allowed: 5 (4th)
Pass Defense: 175.9 (16th)
Pass TD Allowed: 4 (1st)
Total Defense: 283.8 (6th)
Yards Per Play Allowed: 4.4 (6th)
Opp 3rd Down Conv Rate: 28.3% (8th)
Opp Red Zone TD %: 22.7 (1st)
Opp Red Zone TD: 5 (1st)
Tackles for Loss: 63 (14th)
Ok, you all get the point. They have been really good in just about every single defensive category that you could put on the table. Let’s now take a look at some of their top individual performers.
Montez Sweat (DE): 11.5 TFL, 9 sacks (PFF grade of 82.3 against the run, 80.8 as a pass rusher, 27 QB pressures)
Jeffery Simmons (DT): 10.5 TFL (PFF grade of 91.8 against the run, 80.6 as a pass rusher, 16 QB pressures)
Eroll Thompson (LB): 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Gerri Green (DE): 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks (PFF grade of 72 against the run, 58.3 as a pass rusher, 9 QB pressures)
Jaquarius Andrews (S): 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks (he’ll get more snaps in the place of injured, Brian Cole)
Chauncey Rivers (DE): 4.5 TFL, 1 sack (PFF grade of 71 against the run, 62.9 as a pass rusher, 8 QB pressures)
Kobe Jones (DE): 4 TFL (PFF grade of 79 against the run, 56.9 as a pass rusher, 5 QB pressures)
Mark McLaurin (S): 3.5 TFL
Braxton Hoyett (DT): 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Leo Lewis (LB): 3 TFL
Pretty solid defense that thrives on putting offenses behind the chains. It’s easy to say that Tech just has to control Sweat and Simmons, but the problem is that no one has been able to do it so far this year.
I said it on BTB Radio last night, but I just don’t think Tech matches up with these guys very well.
